Crimes against U.S. jewelry firms in 2022 hits highest number ever recorded by JSA

(NEW YORK) - Jewelers’ Security Alliance (JSA) has released its 2022 Annual Crime Report which described how the number of crimes committed against the U.S. jewelry industry reached the highest number ever recorded.

John Kennedy, President of JSA commented: “Soaring crime needs to be a concern for the entire diamond, jewelry and watch industry. This Report can help jewelers become better prepared for the dangerous crime risks they face every day, and can alert law enforcement agencies to the serious crime risks of the jewelry industry.”

Kennedy urged all jewelry firm owners and their employees to spend time reading and discussing the Report, examining the serious risks that every jewelry business faces, and taking appropriate steps to reduce risk. He reminded jewelers that burglaries, robberies and thefts happen everywhere: small towns, big cities, malls, strip centers and free standing stores coast to coast, and that every jewelry business is at risk.

Notable results from the Report include the following:

1. In 2022 the total dollar losses from crimes against U.S. jewelry firms reported to JSA was $129.4 million, an 84.6% increase from $70.1 million in 2021.

2. In 2022 the total number of crimes committed against U.S. jewelry firms was 2,211, which is the highest number of crimes JSA has ever recorded. The num- ber of crimes in 2022 represented an increase of 31.1% from 2021, when 1,687 crimes were reported to JSA.

3. Distraction thefts increased from 91 events in 2021 to 195 events in 2022. Burglaries increased from 311 in 2021 to 484 in 2022. Smash and grab robberies increased from 85 in 2021 to 169 in 2022.

4. The number of off-premises crimes reported to JSA increased from 34 in 2021 to 65 in 2022. Crimes committed at trade shows increased from 2 reports in 2021, to 20 reports in 2022. The average jewelry trade show loss in 2022 was $243,000.

5. The dollar losses from crimes against U.S. jewelry firms reported to JSA for the 21-year period 2002 to 2022 totaled $2.5 billion on an inflation adjusted basis.

To download a copy of the full report, visit jewelerssecurity. org/crime-statistics.

For further information, contact John Kennedy, President of JSA, at 212-687-0328 or jsa2@ jewelerssecurity.org.

Continued from page 12 to clean jewelry, you may want to consider getting a second one so they aren’t using the same one. Everyone wants everything done fast, but every customer appreciates it more when you handle their precious items with diligent care.

Custom guru Joel McFadden is the owner of Joel McFadden Designs in Chapel Hill, NC. He developed pricing for custom jewelry and repairs for the IJO Prototype Store, opened a business which became a million-dollar store focusing on custom, was named MJSA’s first Mentor Jeweler, was the first director of the Council of Custom Jewelers, and is the creator of the Bench Jewelers Challenge. He is an industry writer and speaks at events. Available for CAD work, stone setting, and complete custom pieces for the trade. Contact Joel at MentorJeweler@gmail.com, 984-212-2217, JMDJewelry.com, Facebook and YouTube.